Wellsville, December 24, 2023
PASTORAL ANNOUNCEMENT:
YOUNG ADULTS AND YOUTH MINISTRIES COORDINATOR POSITION
Mission Statement: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations… and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20
Vision Statement: To live the Gospel of Jesus Christ and be God’s love to our neighbors in all places, so that at the name given to Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Grace and peace, dear brothers, and sisters in Christ!
I, Pastor Craig Buelow, and your administrative council wish to unveil a new ministry position: The Young Adults and Youth Ministries coordinator. First and foremost, I firmly believe this position is the desire of God’s heart. Also, I strongly believe it will not only benefit our church members, churchgoers, congregation, and denomination, it will hopefully benefit the people who surround us, residents and non-residents alike, of our so loved Wellsville community.
Envisioning to strengthen our body of believers for the good of the Kingdom is good work. It often takes some time for clear visions from God to be revealed. You all know it will be in his time. Truth is, it often takes a lot longer for the vision to be understood and to execute.
The creation of this position is a direct result of many of you engaging in the ministry audit back in early 2022. After the completion of the audit, that resulted in pointing out many very positive possibilities for this body to move forward and make disciples of all. A second group of people began to meet and seek God’s will. In our time together, we began to see this possibility.
The beginning responsibilities of this position are as follows:
- To provide a plan and structure for faith development in the lives of young adults and youth.
- To coordinate and lead activities involving fellowship, Bible study, worship, outreach, and special events.
- To provide a plan and structure for weekly gatherings when a group has been identified as committed to gather regularly.
- To create a safe environment for all to grow and mature in faith.
- To maintain visible presence in the community by networking, using all resources available.
- To maintain attendance records of all events.
- To be a direct reflection of who God is calling the Wellsville First UMC to be.
- To attend Sunday worship service.
- To revive children’s area.
- To lead children’s church during traditional worship service.
- To recruit and equip a second person to be present during children’s church.
- To work with congregational leaders to invite, equip, support, and manage adults and parents to serve in children, youth, and family ministry.
- To report to the administrative council meetings (possibly attend ex-officio).
- To prepare an annual budget.
- To communicate regularly with families and community through a variety of means including print, social media, email and verbal.
- To create and encourage opportunities for young people and families to serve and live out faith in community including regular outreach, monthly mission.
This position is directly accountable to the Senior Pastor with weekly communications and/or meetings with the Staff Parish Relations Ministry Team in the following basis: after 90 days, six months, then, yearly, also engaging in evaluating this work. Several layers of supervision are in line with the Methodist ethos.
I would like to highlight the fact that the vision of such a position derives directly from the previously mentioned hard work and great deal of effort put into it by your leadership team throughout the entire year. With that said, upon extended prayer time, careful evaluation, and meetings, I and the administrative council of our church have appointed Marcio Horsth. We found him to meet or exceed the qualifications for this position. He has submitted a ministry plan to the pastor and administrative council to begin this work. This is a 20-hour-per-week position with built-in flexibility to complete the mission. The mission of this position is in line with your mission statement. It is the intent of this position to be focused on those not here yet, not to tend to the current body. Tending to the current body is a task solely for the pastor.
At this time, Marcio desires to remain living in Rushford and commute to work. There is the possibility for him to move into the Wellsville parsonage in the future.
Disclaimer: This position will evolve as the young adult and youth ministries develop. It is my hope that this body of believers will commit to support and provide assistance and resources to develop this ministry. This person will work closely with the lead visionary pastor and adapt as this develops.
Grace and peace,
Craig Buelow
Pastor Craig Buelow
